Okay, I am farther along in my week of turning things around, some things I have managed and others I have not. This food and drink problem will plague me longer yet. I did finish mixing the single last night, by far my favorite project thus far!! And in going further I have taken many steps to get someone to master the thing. I wrote yet another poem of sorts. I walked to the subway today, it felt nice to be awake and the air was warmed by the sun. Next week should be even warmer, what with the losing of an hour.
Just a few more pesky pesters to take care of.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Patchy
Sprung forth from my chin tiny reminders of metaphor, very much less in bloom. If pride is a sin my facial hair is a crime. Raw nerve endings fill in better. I have a vision, of fields ripe, I have a reminder to attain. I glimpse progress in the mirror, of telephone poles and picket fences. Idle scratchy reminder. In cocoon, buzzing about, things need organized, labeled, quantified, sorted, stacked, measured, recorded. I know better stories, but they put a finger to lips and wink, they are waiting, smart enough to keep silent, knowing that they wish to be Out Done by what is to come.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Week Humper
Half way through on the week of promises. I have accomplished some of them. I wrote a little Poem. I finished my book and started a new one. I am very nearly finished mixing on the single. I have walked home from work, but not yet walked in the morning, in fact I woke up late again today so I had to drive.
I'm going to pause here to wonder about why I can't seem to wake up consistently on time these last few weeks. Is my late waking symptomatic of something? Does my alarm clock not function as well as it once did? Do I care less about getting to work on time. There are no answers to these questions.
I am still eating very poorly, this will cause me to end up more portly. I drank with the best of fishes last night also. I haven't handled any of that love nonsense either, but at least the poem was short and without title.
I'm going to pause here to wonder about why I can't seem to wake up consistently on time these last few weeks. Is my late waking symptomatic of something? Does my alarm clock not function as well as it once did? Do I care less about getting to work on time. There are no answers to these questions.
I am still eating very poorly, this will cause me to end up more portly. I drank with the best of fishes last night also. I haven't handled any of that love nonsense either, but at least the poem was short and without title.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
Ride it on
Okay, Back to the grinding. I will blog more this week. I will finish mixing the single. I will stop eating like junk food is about to become illegal. I will stop drinking everything that isn't tied down. I will stop untying things that should remain tied down for the sole purpose of having another drink. I will sleep more this weekend. I will walk to work as I have been. I will be nicer. I will finish reading "the Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. I will refer to myself as Buck, and Buckie. I will write a poem. I will make plans to do something nice this weekend. I will remind certain people that I love them.
I will remind others that they need to and should love themselves. I will be good.
I will remind others that they need to and should love themselves. I will be good.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Mali Boo Boo
Last night was my Uncle's last night in town. I drove out to Malibu to deliver their camera to them and to see them off. It was a beautiful evening and we sat out back of their camper drinking a couple beers and smoking some grass. It ws nice to see him and his family again, they mean a great deal to me, and I often miss getting to hang out and work on music with him.
So tonight I return to regular life. La Di Da. It can always go one of two ways... I'm hoping it lands on the responsible side, but it's easy to have that hope before noon.
So tonight I return to regular life. La Di Da. It can always go one of two ways... I'm hoping it lands on the responsible side, but it's easy to have that hope before noon.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Gads
It's been a while since I have felt the nudge to blog, I have no proper reasons or excuses to share at this time. Carrie, who is this lonely blogs lone reader or at least lone commenter, was in town for a visit, I'll refrain from getting deeply into the emotional effect of a visit from the wipp, but lets just say that there always is one.
I'm getting instant messages from several angles at this very moment, it makes blogging hard.
My Aunt, Uncle and Cousin have been in town since Monday, the day the wipp left (or at least tried to leave). It's always a little difficult to have out of town Visits from folks who don't know Los Angeles, it takes living here to see the reality, past the seemingly endless ball of traffic and expense, and I often feel embarrassed that folks are getting an incorrect impression of the life. On the other side of the coin it's been great to see a family that means a great deal to me, it makes me long for the ability to live in Two places at once. I would love the chance to go make an album in my uncle's basement.
I have had a delay in finishing the Lady Slipper single, I imagine I'll get around to it this weekend.
I'm getting instant messages from several angles at this very moment, it makes blogging hard.
My Aunt, Uncle and Cousin have been in town since Monday, the day the wipp left (or at least tried to leave). It's always a little difficult to have out of town Visits from folks who don't know Los Angeles, it takes living here to see the reality, past the seemingly endless ball of traffic and expense, and I often feel embarrassed that folks are getting an incorrect impression of the life. On the other side of the coin it's been great to see a family that means a great deal to me, it makes me long for the ability to live in Two places at once. I would love the chance to go make an album in my uncle's basement.
I have had a delay in finishing the Lady Slipper single, I imagine I'll get around to it this weekend.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
No Body Walks in L.A.
I walked from my house to the subway, and from the subway to my house everyday this week, that is a total of 25 miles. It takes me about 25 minutes each way, walking extremely fast. Cutting out waiting for the bus has improved my mind, I feel sharper. I can't stand waiting.
It's beautiful also, both evening and night.
Last night's show was strange. The poor sad palms is always so hard, never enough power outlets, dirty power, no help with sound... but alas there was free drinks for the band.
I am bored with my blog. I find that I can't entertain even myself with it these days. I must take action, do something absurd for the point of the blog. I do have that birthday coming up tomorrow.
hmm...
It's beautiful also, both evening and night.
Last night's show was strange. The poor sad palms is always so hard, never enough power outlets, dirty power, no help with sound... but alas there was free drinks for the band.
I am bored with my blog. I find that I can't entertain even myself with it these days. I must take action, do something absurd for the point of the blog. I do have that birthday coming up tomorrow.
hmm...
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Put this in your ipod and smoke it
Okay, I've been away from the blog for a spell, sorry faithful reader.
The recording of the lady slipper is finished and roughly mixed. I am super impressed with it at this point. Lady Slipper itself is the best quality I've ever achieved in a song. The rest of the tracks are all very steady and strong, with wonderful atmosphere being often achieved. As A cohesive unit this single is very nice to listen to.
We play tonight at the palms, it should be a very lo-key rehearsal type Saint Pats.
I turn 26 in Two days. How very exciting!!
The recording of the lady slipper is finished and roughly mixed. I am super impressed with it at this point. Lady Slipper itself is the best quality I've ever achieved in a song. The rest of the tracks are all very steady and strong, with wonderful atmosphere being often achieved. As A cohesive unit this single is very nice to listen to.
We play tonight at the palms, it should be a very lo-key rehearsal type Saint Pats.
I turn 26 in Two days. How very exciting!!
Monday, March 07, 2005
Eva Mae
My Grandmother passed away on Saturday. I got the phone call while driving back to Hollywood from the valley. It was of course a shock, but not a huge surprise. My grandmother was diagnosed w/ Alzheimer's over 10 years ago, in effect she has been dead for sometime. I loved her very much, she was a kind gentle being with a very specific sensibility. She was a force without applying any pressure.
She grew up on a farm in rural western Kansas where she spent most of her life. As a young woman she attended school in Emporia Kansas where she earned her teaching certificate. Upon Graduation she moved back to western Kansas to teach school in a one room school, very little house on the prairie if I do say so. She was the only adult on the premises so she was not only responsible for all education but also simple maintenance, such as keeping the coal powered stove going in the dead of winter. Later she married her husband of over 5o years, Earnest Strecker and started a family with four kids, the youngest being my Father.
Growing up Grandma and Grandpa Strecker lived less than 10 miles from our farm, this allowed us many afternoon visits. I recall being rather well fed during stays at grandma's.
+++++
All tracking was completed this weekend for the Lady Slipper Single. Tonight I help Devin move and Mixing begins Tuesday or Wednesday.
She grew up on a farm in rural western Kansas where she spent most of her life. As a young woman she attended school in Emporia Kansas where she earned her teaching certificate. Upon Graduation she moved back to western Kansas to teach school in a one room school, very little house on the prairie if I do say so. She was the only adult on the premises so she was not only responsible for all education but also simple maintenance, such as keeping the coal powered stove going in the dead of winter. Later she married her husband of over 5o years, Earnest Strecker and started a family with four kids, the youngest being my Father.
Growing up Grandma and Grandpa Strecker lived less than 10 miles from our farm, this allowed us many afternoon visits. I recall being rather well fed during stays at grandma's.
+++++
All tracking was completed this weekend for the Lady Slipper Single. Tonight I help Devin move and Mixing begins Tuesday or Wednesday.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Phone In
In surfing the web I cam across this little nugget, taken from a website that debunks common scams. I was a less than proud employee of LA Sound Division for two entire days of this exact same kind of shit.
An Unethical Guide to the Street-Sold Stereo Speaker Business:
- kindly submitted by Le Saint, of Montreal Canada.
Do you want to make money? Does the thought of bringing home a $1,000 a week while having the time of your life interest you?
It's easy as long as you (1) have a legal business license for the town you intend to sell in, (2) work for the local stereo speaker scam company, and (3) want to make money!
All you need to learn are these few skills: "The Hit"
Here you will learn to pick the best target to sell to. Within the business, these people are referred to as "hits." For obvious reasons, the ideal person to choose is the single male, age 20-35. These particular individuals seem to enjoy their electronic gadgets, regardless of cost, and the more high-tech they sound, the more they want them.
Men in expensive cars and trucks are the best to choose because they don't mind spending the extra money on nice things.
Preferably, these men are driving alone because when there is more than one person in the car, it makes it twice as difficult to focus your energy and influence on the "hit." Also, the other person can have time to think about what is going on and may clue in their companion. Avoid the elderly! Unless they seem to be particularly hip, the majority of the population of over-60 individuals in this country have no desire to spend their social security checks on big speakers. Also, you may be putting all of your energy into the show that will have no results while the perfect hit is driving right past you.
Wives and girlfriends can be dangerous to your efforts, as well. If you see someone fitting this description with your intended hit, pass on them unless you're feeling brave, because there is nothing more demoralizing than a spineless man who after buying into your whole story says "I love these things, but let me go ask my wife." Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the man will return, crestfallen to inform you that SHE doesn't want them.
A single woman in a car is a different story, however. While never as easy to sell as a man, women can also be convinced that they need speakers, but remember that you cannot be as aggressive with the sale.
"The Pitch"
This is the most important part of the entire process. The pitch is which you quickly (since you may be speeding down a road yelling out the window) tell your hit what you have to sell and why.
The story that you use is always the same. Why? Because we have been in this business since the seventies and it works! The pitch must be given with all the excitement that you can muster. Remember, you are trying to convince your hit that you are sitting on $6,000 of surplus equipment.
The pitch is: "Hey man, hey guy! Want a big set of speakers for your house? I work for an audio company and they just overloaded me!"
The majority of the population has an attention span of thirteen seconds before their mind begins to wander. This is because everyone is so used to the short spot commercials they see all day long on TV, so make it quick.
After shouting out the pitch, follow it immediately with "Pull over and I'll show you!"
Always tell your hit what to do. The concept is to take control of their mind, making them think in an ordered way as you follow through your routine. Therefore you never ask the hit to pull over, because they have the option of saying "No." Just tell them to and you will be surprised how many people follow you to the side of the road. "The Show"
This is the time to let your dramatic skill shine. You are about to bring the hit to the van and actually show them the product that you are trying to sell for much more than its worth, so you must be convincing.
You are only supposed to be a delivery driver who got overloaded, so don't act too knowledgeable about the speaker. You will be give a spec sheet that has the dimensions of the speakers and false power ranges and additions that do not exist, but they won't know this. All they see is the shiny, laminated, professional looking sheet, and you.
When the hit gets out of their car, bounce up to them and grab their hand, shaking it while explaining the following story. Be sure to include any possible detail that you think might have occurred, since it will make your story much more believable.
If you just won the lottery, I bet you could tell someone everything that happened to you that day, minute to minute.
You tell the hit that you arrived to work in order to pick up your daily deliveries, and someone in the confusion of the morning accidentally doubled your order since regular speakers come in pairs, but the "special" studio monitors that you have actually sold individually.
Treat the hit as thought they know more about everything than you do. Build their ego and they will become your instant friend. While at the warehouse, the foreman signed the invoice (an imitation copy given to you every morning at the office), and you left with the extra speakers.
Make your boss out to be a real hard-nose, so that they feel bad for you, the minimum wage earner, and forget about the moral side of the issue. You need to bring back $200 for each pair sold, but the suggested retail price on the spec. sheet is $850 apiece, so you have a lot of leeway since all other money over $ 200 is your to keep. While talking non-stop the whole time (don't give them time to think) occasionally shove the spec sheet in front of their face for emphasis, but not too often or the hit will concentrate on the sheet and your words will lose their emphasis.
Now show them the speaker, all the while telling them of the different interesting things that these "professional quality" speakers have that others don't. Remember, these people did not leave their house with the intention of buying any speakers that day, so it's up to you to convince them that they need these things.
Always look them in the eye, as well. It may make them nervous at first, but once they become caught up in your voice they will see you as less shady. Tap the woofer of the speaker to show them the quality of the polypropylene, but not too hard. In order to make it sound more solid, hit the wooden box of the speaker with the palm of your while your finger taps the woofer.
After going over the other qualities of the speaker, it's time for the sale. If the guy is still there at this point, you've got him interested so close the sale and get your money! The easiest way to reach this point is when you finish the whole story immediately follow it with "So Bill (always use their name if they tell it to you), what's the most you can do?"
Then STOP! Do not say another word.
The Close
This is the only part of the show where silence is golden. You have asked the buying question, now leave it to the hit to bring up a figure. Wait five minutes if you have to, all the time staring at the hit with an expectant look on your face.
After receiving his offer, blow it out of the water with a ridiculous over-offer. You never know how much money your hit can get his hands on, so don't cut yourself short.
Pitch 'em high, look 'em in the eye, and watch 'em buy. After haggling ("Come on guy, I know what these are worth, I'm not gonna just give 'em away! What's the most, most, most you can do?"), decide on how much you can get out of this person, and once your reach that figure, immediately say "Where do you have to go to get the money?"
As you say this, grab his hand again and shake it as if you just sealed the deal, pick up the speaker and start walking it to his car. If the door is unlocked, o pen it and stuff the speaker in. If the hit had any doubts about the status of the sale, they are gone now. This is called "the slam."
Off to the Bank
If you are working with a partner, ask the hit if you can ride with him to the bank, already assuming that you are going there: "Not that I don't trust you or anything, man, but you know how it is."
Have your partner follow the two of you in the van, in case the guy tries to flee with the goods. At the bank, get out and follow him to the ATM, teller, or whatever, and stand right next to him, all the while talking about something other than the sale, so that he does not think about the fact that he is about to take out hundreds of dollars for something that he doesn't need.
If you happen to see that he has more money in his account, don't be afraid to make a scene accusing him to trying to scam YOU: "Hey, guy, come on, these are worth almost $2,000 a pair and I'm giving them to you for $600 (a $400 profit under the false front of a good deal), you can do another fifty bucks." They may buy this, they may not, but it's worth the try, and the sale is technically already over so it's hard to screw up at this point, since you are in control.
You have just successfully made $400 (which you split with your partner) for fifteen minutes of work. Not bad! Of course, the majority of your pitches will not be successful, but the more you pitch, the more you sell. Happy Hunting!
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/speaker_scams.htm
An Unethical Guide to the Street-Sold Stereo Speaker Business:
- kindly submitted by Le Saint, of Montreal Canada.
Do you want to make money? Does the thought of bringing home a $1,000 a week while having the time of your life interest you?
It's easy as long as you (1) have a legal business license for the town you intend to sell in, (2) work for the local stereo speaker scam company, and (3) want to make money!
All you need to learn are these few skills: "The Hit"
Here you will learn to pick the best target to sell to. Within the business, these people are referred to as "hits." For obvious reasons, the ideal person to choose is the single male, age 20-35. These particular individuals seem to enjoy their electronic gadgets, regardless of cost, and the more high-tech they sound, the more they want them.
Men in expensive cars and trucks are the best to choose because they don't mind spending the extra money on nice things.
Preferably, these men are driving alone because when there is more than one person in the car, it makes it twice as difficult to focus your energy and influence on the "hit." Also, the other person can have time to think about what is going on and may clue in their companion. Avoid the elderly! Unless they seem to be particularly hip, the majority of the population of over-60 individuals in this country have no desire to spend their social security checks on big speakers. Also, you may be putting all of your energy into the show that will have no results while the perfect hit is driving right past you.
Wives and girlfriends can be dangerous to your efforts, as well. If you see someone fitting this description with your intended hit, pass on them unless you're feeling brave, because there is nothing more demoralizing than a spineless man who after buying into your whole story says "I love these things, but let me go ask my wife." Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the man will return, crestfallen to inform you that SHE doesn't want them.
A single woman in a car is a different story, however. While never as easy to sell as a man, women can also be convinced that they need speakers, but remember that you cannot be as aggressive with the sale.
"The Pitch"
This is the most important part of the entire process. The pitch is which you quickly (since you may be speeding down a road yelling out the window) tell your hit what you have to sell and why.
The story that you use is always the same. Why? Because we have been in this business since the seventies and it works! The pitch must be given with all the excitement that you can muster. Remember, you are trying to convince your hit that you are sitting on $6,000 of surplus equipment.
The pitch is: "Hey man, hey guy! Want a big set of speakers for your house? I work for an audio company and they just overloaded me!"
The majority of the population has an attention span of thirteen seconds before their mind begins to wander. This is because everyone is so used to the short spot commercials they see all day long on TV, so make it quick.
After shouting out the pitch, follow it immediately with "Pull over and I'll show you!"
Always tell your hit what to do. The concept is to take control of their mind, making them think in an ordered way as you follow through your routine. Therefore you never ask the hit to pull over, because they have the option of saying "No." Just tell them to and you will be surprised how many people follow you to the side of the road. "The Show"
This is the time to let your dramatic skill shine. You are about to bring the hit to the van and actually show them the product that you are trying to sell for much more than its worth, so you must be convincing.
You are only supposed to be a delivery driver who got overloaded, so don't act too knowledgeable about the speaker. You will be give a spec sheet that has the dimensions of the speakers and false power ranges and additions that do not exist, but they won't know this. All they see is the shiny, laminated, professional looking sheet, and you.
When the hit gets out of their car, bounce up to them and grab their hand, shaking it while explaining the following story. Be sure to include any possible detail that you think might have occurred, since it will make your story much more believable.
If you just won the lottery, I bet you could tell someone everything that happened to you that day, minute to minute.
You tell the hit that you arrived to work in order to pick up your daily deliveries, and someone in the confusion of the morning accidentally doubled your order since regular speakers come in pairs, but the "special" studio monitors that you have actually sold individually.
Treat the hit as thought they know more about everything than you do. Build their ego and they will become your instant friend. While at the warehouse, the foreman signed the invoice (an imitation copy given to you every morning at the office), and you left with the extra speakers.
Make your boss out to be a real hard-nose, so that they feel bad for you, the minimum wage earner, and forget about the moral side of the issue. You need to bring back $200 for each pair sold, but the suggested retail price on the spec. sheet is $850 apiece, so you have a lot of leeway since all other money over $ 200 is your to keep. While talking non-stop the whole time (don't give them time to think) occasionally shove the spec sheet in front of their face for emphasis, but not too often or the hit will concentrate on the sheet and your words will lose their emphasis.
Now show them the speaker, all the while telling them of the different interesting things that these "professional quality" speakers have that others don't. Remember, these people did not leave their house with the intention of buying any speakers that day, so it's up to you to convince them that they need these things.
Always look them in the eye, as well. It may make them nervous at first, but once they become caught up in your voice they will see you as less shady. Tap the woofer of the speaker to show them the quality of the polypropylene, but not too hard. In order to make it sound more solid, hit the wooden box of the speaker with the palm of your while your finger taps the woofer.
After going over the other qualities of the speaker, it's time for the sale. If the guy is still there at this point, you've got him interested so close the sale and get your money! The easiest way to reach this point is when you finish the whole story immediately follow it with "So Bill (always use their name if they tell it to you), what's the most you can do?"
Then STOP! Do not say another word.
The Close
This is the only part of the show where silence is golden. You have asked the buying question, now leave it to the hit to bring up a figure. Wait five minutes if you have to, all the time staring at the hit with an expectant look on your face.
After receiving his offer, blow it out of the water with a ridiculous over-offer. You never know how much money your hit can get his hands on, so don't cut yourself short.
Pitch 'em high, look 'em in the eye, and watch 'em buy. After haggling ("Come on guy, I know what these are worth, I'm not gonna just give 'em away! What's the most, most, most you can do?"), decide on how much you can get out of this person, and once your reach that figure, immediately say "Where do you have to go to get the money?"
As you say this, grab his hand again and shake it as if you just sealed the deal, pick up the speaker and start walking it to his car. If the door is unlocked, o pen it and stuff the speaker in. If the hit had any doubts about the status of the sale, they are gone now. This is called "the slam."
Off to the Bank
If you are working with a partner, ask the hit if you can ride with him to the bank, already assuming that you are going there: "Not that I don't trust you or anything, man, but you know how it is."
Have your partner follow the two of you in the van, in case the guy tries to flee with the goods. At the bank, get out and follow him to the ATM, teller, or whatever, and stand right next to him, all the while talking about something other than the sale, so that he does not think about the fact that he is about to take out hundreds of dollars for something that he doesn't need.
If you happen to see that he has more money in his account, don't be afraid to make a scene accusing him to trying to scam YOU: "Hey, guy, come on, these are worth almost $2,000 a pair and I'm giving them to you for $600 (a $400 profit under the false front of a good deal), you can do another fifty bucks." They may buy this, they may not, but it's worth the try, and the sale is technically already over so it's hard to screw up at this point, since you are in control.
You have just successfully made $400 (which you split with your partner) for fifteen minutes of work. Not bad! Of course, the majority of your pitches will not be successful, but the more you pitch, the more you sell. Happy Hunting!
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/speaker_scams.htm
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Completer
We now have more power. Last night, due to the magic that is Craig's List we were able to purchase a very nicely kept Crown power amp. It will be nice to hear the drums and keyboards with much more realistic headroom. I am very excited to test this mess about, and to play a gig with it. The single marches onward, the album soon to follow, then prides and all matter of other shows I hope, punctuated by travel and odd airplay.
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